Artist Feature: SOL BELA MELE
Sol Bela is a 25 years old photographer and Director stablished in Barcelona, Spain. She has wide clientele including Facebook, Adobe, Pinterest, Getty Images, Adidas, Beats By Dre, Polaroid and many more. Sol Bela also collaborated and has been featured in incredibles magazines like The New York Times, I-D Magazine, Vice, Metal Magazine, Paper Magazine, etc. Sol’s work was born because of the lack of cultural references while growing up in the African diaspora and her goal is to create space for POC in media on her creative journey.
Photos by Sol Bela Mele
Q: Can you share something you've learned from creating this body of work that would resonate with our community?
SB: I grew up in a space where I had no references that looked like me, my work was born to give more voice to the black community and create future references, making space for POC and making our voice heard is the most important thing for me.
Q: Tell us about your work process! Do you plan your images ahead or are you more improvisational?
SB: At the beginning of my career I liked to go with the flow, without preparing everything, I would go out with my camera and take pictures of things that seemed important to me, now I can still see the beauty in that, but with an organization I can obtain more satisfactory results, I spend many hours on Pinterest and spend most of my free time watching series that inspire me later when creating a piece.
Photos by Sol Bela Mele
Q: What types of expectations for Black artists are most challenging to you today?
SB: There are high expectations for all artists in general when it comes to being productive, specially on social media when you have to bring something new every other day in order to stay relevant, personally I feel a bit of pressure when It comes to make my photography have some kind of message, I’ve learned that sometimes the best is to enjoy the process and not think too much about it.
As a black female photographer I also have some difficulties in getting work that is not related to race or my sexuality, for example, and I think I'm not the only one but many black artists in general are getting paid much less than what they should be paid. That is something that I try to stand up and fight for my work and sometimes it can be a bit exhaustive, is crazy that big brands would want to work with you but don’t want to pay you what you deserve.
Q: What is your advice to young and aspiring photographers?
SB: For photographers who are just starting, I would say to really enjoy the process of learning about your work, finding a niche and always fight and stand up for your work, I'm still very young when it comes to my career, but I have a track record and there have been moments in it when I’ve had to make very difficult decisions, at the end of the day the most important thing is to do what is best for you, create a lot and take the time you need if you ever get mentally blocked, art will always be there for you.
Photos by Sol Bela Mele
Q: What does being a feminist mean to you?
SB: Being a feminist for me first means respecting myself as a woman and a person, respecting all the female identifying people in my life and fighting for equal rights. I am aware that being a woman and being black means that I have to work twice as hard to achieve and reach my aspirations, but thanks to the support of my mother and the women in my life, I am advancing little by little, supporting each other, growing together and establishing equality. I would define it for me.
Q: Do you have any upcoming events, exhibitions, or news you'd like to share?
SB: Right now I'm starting up again after being stuck with the pandemic, I don't have anything organized but I'm creating again for myself and the truth is that I'm very happy and I hope it can continue like this.
Q: How are you celebrating Black Herstory Month?
SB: I celebrate herstory every day with the people around me and I would like to be able to continue doing it for a long time and through my work, which represents me so much.
Follow @solbela_ and view more at www.solbelamele.com
